Counter



H. N. BLISS Oct. 19, 1943.

COUNTER Filed March 13 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet L ATTORNEY H. N. BLISS Oct. 19, 1943.

COUNTER Filed March 13, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nm Qu j VVE'NTOH ATTORNEYJ fiAR VEYN 7008M QM H. N. BLISS Oct. 19, 1943.

COUNTER 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 15 1941 @ZVVENTOH fiAR VEYN 5.515s

A TTORNEYJ H. N. BLISS Oct. 19, 1943.

COUNTER Filed March 15, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 l I J JNVENTOA fiARVEY NEL [as fly [4M7 6' I,

ATTOPNEYS H. N. BLISS COUNTER Filed March 13, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 R J 6 mm W EMMQ m Y w m A .R M y j QM, -QQM \N\ Oct. 19, 1943. H. N. BLISS 2,332,200

COUNTER Filed March 13, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR H. N. BLISS Oct. 19, 1943.

COUNTER Filed March 13, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Patented Oct. 19, 1943 COUNTER Harvey N. Bliss, Windsor, Conn., assignor to Vecder-Root Incorporated, Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application March 13., 1941, Serial No. 383,112

13 Claims.

The present invention relates to registering or counting apparatus and has particular relation to a mechanism for registering the total amount or number of units or material dispensed and means for simultaneously registering the total cost of the material dispensed.

In the present instance, the mechanism is shown as being adapted for use with apparatus for dispensing gasoline or other fluids and wherein it is desired to simultaneously register both the amount dispensed and the cost thereof.

An object of the present invention is to provide in an apparatus of the above-indicated type an improved transfer mechanism whereby the step by step advance of the wheels of higher order is controlled through means driven from and indirect relation to the wheel of lowest order and where such transfer means include means for preventing an overthrow of the numeral wheels during a counting operation.

A further object is to provide in a mechanism of the above-indicated type an improved drive unit for operating the lowest order wheels, the higher order wheels, and forreleasing the means for preventing overthrow of the numeral Wheels of higher order; said drive unit being so constructed as to carry out the aforementioned operations in timed relation to one another.

Another object is the provision in an apparatus of this type of improved means for controlling and operating the transfer mechanism and wherein the operation of the transfer mechanism between the wheels of lower order and the wheels of higher order is operated from and through the drive means for the wheels of lower order.

A still furtherobject is to provide an improved registering or counting mechanism of the aboveindicated type including resetting mechanism and wherein the resetting mechanism operates to release the counters from the drive and transfer means and thereafter reset them to zero.

A still further object is to provide an improved registering or counting mechanism of the aboveindicated typ which is characterized by its compactness in arrangement, simplicity in operation, economy in manufacture, and dependability in service and performance.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

'The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplifled in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the registering mechanism embodying the invention herein;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view through the center line of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a more or less diagrammatic perspective view of one of the counter wheels showing the transfer mechanism;

Fig. 5 is an end view with the front supporting plate removed to show the transfer mechanism with the parts in position immediately following a transfer;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but with the transfer mechanism released to permit a resetting operation Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the counter wheels showing the reset element of the transfer mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view through one of the counters to show the details of construction and the mounting of the counters on the supporting shafts;

Fig. 9 is a view showing the means operative during resetting for clutching the counter wheels to their supporting shafts;

Fig. 10 is an end view showing the means for disconnecting the counters from the drive means;

Fig. 11 is a front view of the member for operating the means for conditioning the numeral wheels for a resetting operation; and

Fig. 12 is a modified view of the drive unit.

Referring to the drawings, the mechanism includes generally four counters designated as A, B, C, and D, which, together with the mechanism for operating same, are supported between a front frame plate l0 and a rear frame plate l2. The plates l0 and i2 are stamped from any suitable metal and interconnected by bracing members I4 to hold the mechanism as a compact unit.

More particularly, the four counters are of like construction, and referring specifically to the counter A (see Fig. 8), it includes a numeral wheel lGa of lowest order, a second numeral wheel l8a of intermediate order, and a third numeral wheel 20a of highest order. Each numeral wheel comprises a hub 22, a discoidal web 24 extending radially from one end of the hub, and a rim 26 extending from the web in the same direction as and paralleling the hub 22. In the embodiment illustrated, the rims 26 of the numeral wheels of the counters A-and B carry indicia from '0 to 9 to indicate the cost of the material dispensed; the wheel Ilia designating units, the wheel I 8a designating tens, and the wheel 20a designating hundreds. As the counters C and D are used to designate the amount of material dispensed. the indicia on the rims 26 of these numeral wheels differs only in that the wheels successively indicate tenths, units, and tens. l

The lowest order wheel l6a is further provided with a driving gear 28a which is shown as formed integral therewith, but obviously could be an independent gear secured in any suitable way to the wheel. The successively higher order wheels differ from the lowest order wheel in that they carry a transfer ratchet; that associated with the second numeral wheel being designated as 300. and that with the third wheel as 32a; these ratchets being hereinafter fully described in connection with the drive mechanism. The order wheels of the counter A are supported and loosely rotatable on a counter shaft 34a, which shaft in turn is rotatably mounted in the frame plates l and I2 for reasons hereinafter apparent.

As all of the counters are of like construction to the counter A (exc pt when otherwise noted), no further description thereof will be made as the corresponding parts have been given similar numbers with a small letter suffix corresponding to the capital letter designating the counter.

In order to arrange the counters so that a cost and amount counter may be seen through windows in each side of the usual casing (not shown) in which the device. is mounted, the counter shafts 34a and 34b are arranged in spaced alignment in an upper horizontal plane,

and the shafts 34c and 34d are arranged in spaced alignment in a lower horizontal plane and respectively in vertical alignment with the shafts 34a and 34b.

With the counters so located, there is provided a drive means for each pair, said means including an upper drive shaft 36 rotatably mounted in the frame members and located in horizontal alignment and midway between the cost counter shafts, and a lower drive shaft 38 similarly ar- 3 ranged relative tothe material countershafts. The upper drive shaft 36 is connected to a variator (not shown) through a driving connection including a beveled gear 40 secured on shaft 36 and meshing with a bevel gear 42 secured to the upper end of a connecting shaft 44. The lower end of the shaft 44 carries a second bevel gear 46 meshing with a bevel gear 48 rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 50; the bevel gear 48 meshing with a crown gear 52 operatively connected to the variator in any suitable way. In like.manner,- the lower drive shaft 38 is connected to a meter (notshown) through a driving connection including a gear 53 secured to shaft 38 and meshing with a gear 54 secured to a shaft 56 rotatably mounted in the frame members. secured on shaft 56 a bevel gear 58 meshing with a bevel gear 60 secured to the upper end of a shaft 62 operatively connected in any suitable way to the meter.

In this manner, upon a dispensing operation being carried out, the drive shafts 36 and 38 will be rotated, and means are provided for transferring their rotation to the respective counters associated therewith. As the means for accomplishing this transfer are duplicated, the description of these parts (except where otherwise indicated) will relate to the cost counter drive means, and like numerals will be applied to like parts of the material counters drive'means, ex-

cept that the numerals associated with the material counters are primed.

To accomplish the transfer of rotation from the drive shaft to the cost counters, there is rotatably mounted on shaft 36 a drive unit generally designated as 31 and adapted for controlling its forward end a drive gear 66 and to its after end a second drive gear 68. As best seen in Fig. 2, the

spacing between the gears 66 and 68 is such that the gear 66 meshes directly with the drive gear 28a of the lowest order wheel of the counter A and the gear 68 meshes directly with the drive gear 28b ofthe lowest order wheel of the cost counter B. In this way, upon rotation of the gears 66 and 68 in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4), the lowest order wheels of the opposed cost counters will be simultaneously rotated in a clockwise or counting direction.

To connect the gear-carrying sleeve 64 to the drive shaft 36, there is provided a cone clutch,

generally designated as I0, including a female clutch member I2 formed on the forward face of the drive gear 66 and a male clutch member 14 secured to .a sleeve 16 slidably mounted on the shaft 36. In order to rotate the sleeve I6, the latter is provided with a flange 88 radially spaced from the sleeve by a web 89; the flange 88 being provided with splines receivable within slots provided in a throat 90 formed in the drive gear 40. The clutch members I2 and I4 are normally urged to the driving position shown in Fig. 3 by a spiral spring 82 having one'end seated within a recess 86 provided in the hub of the drive gear40 and its other end abutting the web 89 of the sleeve.

In the present instance, the drive gear 66 not only operates the lowestorder wheel of the counter A, but also carries means for operating the transfer means for making a step by step advancement of the higher order wheels of both cost counters A and 3 upon predetermined rotation of the lowest order wheel of the counter A.

To accomplish this transfer, there is formed integral on the after face of gear 66 a positive motion cam 9| having a track (see Figs. 3 and 4) in which there rides a cam follower 84. Operated juncture of the arms on a control shaft I02 rotatably mounted in the frame members. To

- operate the lever 96 the track cam 92 includes an advancing portion I04 which is so located relative There is also to the lowest order wheel that when the numeral 9 is aligned with the pointer 93 the follower 84 will enter the track portion I04 where upon con-v tinued rotation the transfer lever 96 will be pivoted in a clockwise direction until the numeral 9 is aligned with the pointer 93, at which point the follower 94 will have reached the end of the portion I64. The remainder of the track 82 is so formed that upon continued rotation the transfer lever 96 will be slowly pivoted in a counterclockwise direction; this alternate pivoting of the transfer lever being utilized for advancing the higher order wheels.

To transfer the movement of the transfer lever to the higher order wheels, there is provided means, generally designated by the numeral I66,

I for advancing the higher order wheels of the counter A and means, generally designated as I68,

- for advancing the higher order wheels of the the operation of the order wheels of the adjacent counters. More specifically, the drive unit 31 includes an elongated sleeve 64 having secured to counter B. Referring initially to the means I06,

it includes alink IIO pivotally connected at one end to the vertical arm 98 of the transfer lever 96 and at its other end to the upper end of a vertical lever I I2, which lever is pivotally mounted at its lower end on an auxiliary shaft I I4 supported between the frame members. Also pivoted on the upper end of the lever III is a transversely extending transfer arm IIB carrying on its outer end (left, as viewed ini'ig. 4) along depending pawl H811 and a short depending pawl Inc.) These pawls are so spaced that pawl IIIa engages the ratchet 30a of the intermediate numeral wheel IBa and the pawl I200. engages the ratchet 32a oi. thehighest order wheel 20a.

The engagement of the short pawl I20 with the ratchet 32 is controlled by the movement of the ratchet 30a; this latter ratchet being provided with nine shallow notches I2Ia and one deep tooth notch I22a. The deep notch I22a is so positioned on the ratchet that the drive pawl will be received therein when the numeral 9 of the intermediate wheel'is aligned with the indiarm 08 of the transfer lever 06 and carrying at its outer end transfer pawls II8b and I 20b respectively engaging the ratchets 30b and 32b;

cator 03 whereby upon the next operation of the transfer means both the intermediate wheel and 1 the highest order wheel will be advanced one step. With this construction, when the long pawl II8a is positioned in any of the nine shallow notches of the ratchet 30a, the short pawl Ia will be raised above the peripheral edge of the ratchet 32a, whereas when the long pawl is positioned in the deep notch I22a, the short pawl I20 will be engagedinone of the notches of the ratchet 32a; these notches all corresponding in depth to the shallow notches of ratchet '32.

In the embodiment illustrated, the driving pawls H811 and I20a and the ratchet teeth of the ratchets a and 32a cooperate to prevent overthrow of the numeral wheels when the latter are advanced in a counting direction. 'I'o accomplish this, the ratchet pawls and notches are cut substantially rectangular whereby when they are received in one of the notches they cannot be removed therefrom except by pivoting the transfer arm to raise the pawls vertically until they clear the periphery of the ratchets. In this way, once the pawls are positioned within the notches there is a positive interlock therebetween, and if a numeral wheel should tend to overthrow, the next succeeding tooth will engage the driving pawl and restrain further movement of the wheel.

In order to release the pawls II 8a and I20a from the ratchet teeth, there is carried by the drive gear 68 a releasing means comprising a cam I26a positioned in timed relation to the advance of the numeral wheels so that it will engage the under surface of the transfer arm IIGa shortly after the completion of an advance of the numeral wheel and pivot the transfer arm upwardly to lift the drive pawls from the ratchet notches. The cam I26a is of such length that it will retain the transfer arm IIIia in its raised position until the transfer lever 98 has moved sufficiently in a counterclockwise direction to movethe transfer pawls out-of alignment with the ratchet tooth notch from which it has been lifted. When the pawl has been moved out of alignment with the notch from which it was released, the cam I2Ga will then move out of engagement with the transfer arm I IBa, permitting the transfer arm to lower until the pawl engages the next succeeding tooth, where upon continued movement of the transfer arm the pawl will align with and drop into the next succeeding notch. Obviously the cam I26a could be so constructed that the transfer arm is maintained out of engagement with the ratchet from the time the drive pawl is released from one notch until it is aligned with the next successive notch.

Referring now to the means I08 for advancing the higher order wheels of the counter B, this means includes a transfer arm IIIib pivoted at its inner end to the upper end of the vertical the transfer arms H012 and pawls II 81) and I20b carried thereby being of similar construction to the transfer arm Ilia and pawls I Illa and I20a. In order to release the pawls H817 and I20b from their respective ratchets, the drive gear 68 carries a cam I26b of like construction to the cam I28a and located in a like relative position whereby it controls the transfer arm IIBb in the manner cam I26a controls the transfer arm I I6a.

It will also be noted that inasmuch as the lowest order wheels are operated in the same direction, the transfer arm Ga and H822 must likewise operate the higher order wheels in the same direction. For this reason, the transfer 'arm IIIia in effect pulls the higher order wheels of the counter A, whereas the transfer arm II6b pushes the higher order wheels of the counter B.

In order to prevent reverse rotation of the order wheels following an advance in the counting direction, there is associated with each of the ratchets of the wheels of higher order a retainer or non-back-up pawl I32; those associated with the counter A being pivotally mounted intermediate of their end on the control shaft I02 and those associated with the other counters bei pivotally mounted on the auxiliary shafts II4. Each of the pawls I32 terminates at its upper end in a nose I36 adapted to be received within a ratchet notch to thus restrain the wheels against reverse direction. In order to so position the pawls, they are normally pivoted into en gagement with the ratchets by means of a sprin I40 which is secured at its lower end to the pawl supporting shaft and at its upper end engages the side of the pawl remote from the ratchet with which the pawl is associated. Obviously, with this construction the pawls, will normally be biased towards engagement with the ratchets, and when the wheels are operated in a counting direction the pawls will be pivoted out of engagement against the tension of the sprin I40 until the pawl is aligned with the next succeeding notch, whereupon the spring will automatically urge it therein.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the drive unit 31 carried on the drive shaft for each set of counters simultaneously controls the driving operation of the lowest order wheels of the two counters and, through the positive cam 92, also controls the complete drive for all of the order wheels of both of the opposed counters, In addition to the foregoing, this drive means also includes the releasing cam I 26 whereby the transfer arms may be released from the respective ratchets following a transfer thereof, thus breaking the interlocking engagement, whereby the overthrow of the wheels is prevented. By incorporating all of the foregoing structure into the single unit, it is obvious that they may be arranged in such order that all of the foregoing operations may be synchronized to operate in proper timed relation to one another to accomplish the results desired. In addition, the fore going structure lends itself to ready manufacture and quick assembly and, by utilizing a minimum number of parts, considerably reduces the cost of manufacture.

Referring now to the resetting means, there is provided a centrally located reset shaft I42 rotatably journalledin the frame members I 0 and I2. Upon rotation of the reset shaft, it operates mechanism to break the clutching engagement between the counter drive shafts and the counters to release the transferpawlsfrom the higher order wheels, release the retainer or nonback-up pawls from the order wheels, clutch the order wheels to the counter shafts, and thereafter rotate the counter shafts to return the order wheels to zero position.

To accomplish these various steps, there is secured to the reset shaft forwardly of the frame I a reset cam I44 (see Figs. 1 and 2) having a peripheral notch I46 which, when the. counters are in zero position, lags approximately 90 behind vertical position. Positioned in notch I46 during counting operations is a follower I48 carried on the outer end of a crank arm I50 secured to the control shaft I02. The crank arm is normally urged in a clockwise direction by a spring I52 connected at one'end to the follower I48 and at the other to the extending end'of a shaft 4'; this rotation tending to rotate the reset cam I44 in a counterclockwise direction when the follower I48 is located within the notch To limit this rotation, there is struck from crank arm I50 a stop tab I56 engageable against a reset stop arm I58 of a bifurcated lever I60, which lever is pivoted intermediate of its ends on the control shaft I02. As indicated, when the stop tab I56 abuts the arm I58, the lever I60 will be pivoted in a clockwise direction until the opposite arm I62 of the lever I60 engages the periphery of a non-back-up ratchet I64 secured to the main reset shaft I46 rearwardly of the reset cam I44, thus limiting further rotation. The lever I60 is also urged to the position shown in Fig. 1 by a spring I66 secured at one end to the finger I58 and at the other to the frame member I0. However, upon rotation of the reset shaft, the control lever will be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction, and when the tooth I68 of the non-back-up ratchet I64 clears the end of the arm I62, the spring I66 will pivot the arm to locate it behind the tooth and thus prevent reverse rotation of the reset shaft. Thereafter, upon continued rotation of the reset shaft,

. the follower I48 will ride out and onto the periphery of the reset cam I44, rotating the control shaft I02 through approximately 45.

It will also be noted that the lever I50 extends beyond the control lever I60, and there is associshoulder I65 formed on the outer end of the lever I60 to restrain this lever in position. When so restrained, the arm I58 of the lever I60 will then lie in the path of rotation of the tooth I63 and thus restrain further rotation of the reset shaft. This restraint will occur when the notch I46 is again aligned with the follower I46,

' whereupon the spring I52 will cause the lever I to rotate in a clockwise direction and the reset shaft to rotate in a counterclockwise direction to return the parts to the positions indicated in Fig. 1. When this occurs, the outer cammed edge I61 of the lever I50 will engage beneath the shoulder I6I of the latch I55, camming it outwardly to release the lever I60, whereupon this lever will be returned by a spring I66 to the position shown in Fig. 1.

Upon the rotation of'the lever I50 to release the follower I48 from the notch I46, the control shaft I02 will simultaneously rotate a crank arm I10 (see Fig. 2), a gear segment I12, and a second gear segment I14, all fixed thereon. The crank arm I10 is provided at its outer end with a pin I16 receivable within the bifurcated end of a lever I18 (see Fig. 10) rotatably mounted on a collar I80 (see Fig. 3) secured to the reset shaft I42. The pivoted end of the lever I18 controls the movement of a yoke I62, which yoke is provicled with opposite bifurcated ends I84 straddling the sleeves 16 of the counter clutch members 10 and 10', whereby when the yoke is moved longitudinally and to the right on the shaft I42 (as viewed in Fig. 3), the clutch members will be opened. To obtain this longitudinal movement, the pivoted end lever I18 is provided with forwardly extending detents I68 receivable within recesses I90 of the yoke member I82 when the parts are in driving relation. However, upon the pivoting of lever I18, the detents I86 will be rotated out of the recesses onto the flat face of the yoke, moving it to the right, as seen in Fig. 3, and thus declutching the counters from their respective drive shafts.

Simultaneously with the foregoing operation the gear segment I12 is rotated, and this segment meshes with a rack provided on an arm ated therewith a latch I5I pivoted to the frame member I0 on a stud I53. Thelatch I5I includes a depending arm I and an upwardly extending arm I51, which arm is connected through a spring I59 to the frame member 10 whereby the latch is normally urged to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. To prevent such rotation, the depending arm carries at its lower end an outwardly turned shoulder I6I which normally'abuts when the parts are in zero position against the end of the lever I50. However, when the lever I50 has been rotated through the 45 previously described, it will clear the shoulder I6I of the latch, whereupon the latter will be pivoted until it abuts against the end of lever I60. When the reset shaft has been rotated sufficiently to cause the follower I48 to ride onto the periphery of the cam I44, the zero limiting notch I63 carried by the non-back-up ratchet will have moved to a position where it engages beneath the non-back-up arm I62 of the lever I60, whereupon it will pivot this lever counterclockwise against the tension of spring I66. When this occurs, the latching shoulder I6I of the latch I55 will then move into the path of a ISI extending laterally from a releasing member I92 (see Figs. 1 and 5) whereby the member I82 will be raised to release the transfer pawls and retainer pawls from engagement with the higher order wheels. As best seen in Figs. 2, 3, and 6, member I92 is mounted by cutting slots I64 therein through which the drive shafts 36 and 38 and reset shaft I42 extend; the length of the top and bottom slots acting to limit the vertical movement thereof. To guide member I82 in its vertical movement, the upper end may also extend through a slot I96-provided in one of the bracing members I4 extending between the frames I0 and I2.

In order to release the transfer arms upon upward movement of member I92, the latter carries forwardly and rearwardly extending fingers 200 so disposed that upon raising of the arm they will engage the transfer levers I 08 and I06 to pivot I them out of contact with the ratchet wheels as seen in Fig. 6. The raising of the member I66 also releases the non-back-up pawls I32, and for this purpose the slide carries transversely extending arms 202 of sufficient width to simultaneously engage the depending fingers I38 of the non-back-up pawls to pivot them out of the notches of the numeral wheel ratchets and free same for a reset operation.

To cooperate with the foregoing, the second crating member 205 transversely and to the right,

as seen in Fig. 9, to clutch the order wheels of each counter to their respective supporting shafts.

As best seen in Fig. 11, the member 205 comprises a substantially rectangular plate 206 provided with arms 208 extending laterally from the left-hand edge thereof and arms 2| extending laterally from the right-hand edge thereof. Each of the arms 208 and H0 are provided with a slot 2 l2 through which the counter supporting shafts extend for mounting the slide'for transverse movement on the supporting shafts. In order to operate the member 205, plate 206 has an opening 2, the lower edge of which is provided with teeth to form a rack 2I6 meshing with the gear segment I14.

Upon the transverse movement of the clutching member 205, detents 2l8 provided on each of the arms 2| 0 willbe moved into alignment with the respective counter supporting shafts whereby the numeral wheels will be shifted longitudinally and to the right on the supporting shafts (as viewed in Fig. 8); this longitudinal movement being limited by a stop 240 abutting the hub of the lowest order wheel. When. this longitudinal movement occurs, the wheels are clutched to the supporting shafts .by friction means whereby upon rotation of the shafts the wheels will rotate simultaneously therewith.

Referring again to Fig. 8, the friction clutching means comprises a friction member 220 nonrotatably slidably secured on the shaft 34a by a depending tongue 222 extending into a groove 224 provided in the shaft and positioned between the arm 208 of the clutching member and the adjacent end of the hub 22 of thehighest order wheel. Upon the detents 2| 8 being moved behind the friction member 220, the latter will be forced to the right, sliding the highest order wheel 20a to the right and into frictional engagement with a second friction member 226. This friction member is also nonrotatably but slidably secured to the shaft 340. in like manner to the friction member 220, but comprises a substantially large circular plate located between opposed friction faces 228 fixed to and extending outwardly from the discoidal webs 24 of the numeral wheels.

Obviously when the numeral wheel 20a is slid to the right and into engagement with the friction member 226, the latter will also be forced into engagement with the wheel l8a, whereupon the wheel l8'a will he slid to the right. The movement of the wheel I8a to the right is utilized to actuate means for clutching the lowest order wheel to the shaft 34a aswell as for increasing the frictional engagement between the intermediate and higher order wheels and the friction disk 226 to positively assure the rotation of all of the wheel; upon the rotation of the shaft 34a.

To obtain the foregoing result, there is slidably mounted on the hub 22 of the wheel l8a adjacent the lowest order wheel l6aa friction plate 234 which is normally urged outwardly against a shoulder or restraining ring 236 by a spiral spring 230. The spring 230 is mounted on the hub 22 of the wheel Illa and is normally selfcontained between the friction plate and a hub shoulder 232; the spring being preloaded to normally exert just suflicient pressure against the friction plate to maintain it positioned against the shoulder 236.

The friction plate 234 further includes a fr1c-,

tion face 235 which is offset to lie in a plane to the right of the end of the hub of the order wheel a and adjacent a friction member 238 of like construction t the friction member 226, which friction member when urged to the right will abut the friction face 228 of the lowest order wheel l6a.

With the foregoing construction, when the order wheel l8a is urged to the right, the friction face 235 of the plate 234 will engage the friction disk 238, and the latter will engage the lowest order wheel l6a; this engagement occurring prior to the completion of the full extent of sliding movement of the higher order wheels whereby the shoulder 236 will move away from the friction plate and the spring 230 will be placed under increased compression. When ,the spring 230 is placed under this increased compression, it will then exert a pressure in two directions-one to positively urge the friction plate 234 and friction disk 238 into engagement with the lowest order wheel and the other to positively urge the intermediate order wheel and the higher order wheel into positive engagement with the friction member 226, thus positively assuring a rotation of all of the order wheels upon rotation of the supporting shaft 34A.

In addition to assuring a positive rotation of the numeral wheels, the utilization of the spring 230 reduces to a minimum the amount of sliding movement required to obtain frictional engagement between the wheels and friction member; in actual practice it being found that a clearance of a few thousandths of an inch is all that is required to permit free rotation of the wheels when operating in a counting direction and to positively assure clutching when the wheels are moved longitudinally for a resetting operation.

In order to rotate the shaft 34a to reset position, the main reset shaft I42 carries a reset gear operating pawl 242 which, when the aforedescribed'operations have been completed, engages a lug 244 on a main reset gear 246. The main reset gear 246 meshes with four reset wheels 256; each being respectively secured to on of the counter shafts 34. In this manner, upon rotation of the main gear 246, the shafts 34will all be simultaneously rotated in a counterclockwise direction and, when the wheels are clutched thereto, will simultaneously rotate the wheels in a like direction towards zero position.

In order to positively stop the wheels at zero position, the non-back-up pawls I32 also function as stop pawls, and to cooperate therewith each of the ratchets of the higher order wheels is provided with a stop lug 258 (see Figs. 4 and 6) extending radially from one of the ratchet teeth. The stop lugs 258 are approximately half the width of the teeth, whereby they will ride past the driving pawls during counting and resetting operations. It will also be noted that they extend radially a suificient distance to contact the retainer pawls when the latter have been moved out of engagement with the ratchet wheel notches when the counter is conditioned for resetting (see Fig. 6). Due to the fact that the wheels are only frictionallyengaged to their respective shafts, the stopping of one wheel at zero does lowest order wheel is provided with a ratchet 26I having a single tooth 263, which tooth functions as a stop lug when the lowest order wheel is operated in reset direction to engage with the pawl and positively stop it at zero.

When the counters have all been reset to zero position, the notch I46 in the reset cam I44 will again align with the follower I48 whereby upon releasing the reset shaft I42 the spring I52 will again operate the crank arm I50 in a clockwise direction to return the reset cam I44 to the position shown in Fig. 1 and to simultaneously lower the slide I92 to re-position the transfer arms I06 and I08 and non-back-up pawls I32 and to operate the slide 205 transversel to declutch th wheels from their supporting shaft drive clutches and likewis to reverse the operation of the pawl 242 to move it out of contact with the main reset gear lug 244 and thus recondition the counter for a new counting operation.

It will also be noted, by reference to the reset stop pawl I63 (Fig. 1), that the reset shaft is operated through one complete revolution plus an overtravel; this overtravel being sufiicient to assure that all of the wheels will be positively returned to zero position, thus compensating for any possibility of slip during the clutching of the wheels to their respective supporting shafts.

Reviewing the structure for accomplishing the resetting, it will be seen that upon the operation of the reset shaft a single slide member is utilized for controlling th non-back-up and stop pawls of all of the wheels of higher order and a second single member is utilized for clutching the wheels of all of the counters to their respective supporting shafts to condition them for resetting; both of these members being operated from the single reset shaft.

Referring to Fig. 12, there is shown a modified form of driving means for each pair of counters and wherein the declutching of the drive unit from the drive shaft is accomplished through the clutch slide member 205 which conditions the numeral wheels of the counter for resetting. To accomplish the foregoing, the drive unit 39, which is of like construction to that shown in the other embodiment, is rotatably mounted on a sleeve 260 slidably mounted on a drive shaft 262. The sleeve 260 has integral with its forward end a male clutch member 264 which is normally urged into clutching engagement by a spiral spring 266 positioned on the hub of the clutch member and receivable within a recess provided in the hub of a driving gear 40. As in the previous embodiment, the gear 40 is operatively connected to the variator when associated with the cost counters and with the motor when associated with the amount counters. In order to rotate the male clutch member 264, it is connected to the shaft 262 by a pin 210 extending through the shaft and secured to a collar 212 mounted on the sleeve 260, which collar also functions as a posi-, t oni membe for the drive unit 39.

It will also be noted that the sleeve 260 is provided with diametrically opposed, longitudinal slots 214 through which the pin 210 extends; these slots permitting longitudinal movement of the sleeve relative to the shaft 262. As previously explained, the clutching member 264 is.

normally urged into clutching engagement, and as the sleeve is integral therewith, it will also be urged rearwardly, or to the left as viewed in Fig. '12, whereupon its after end will abut against a spacer 216, which spacer lies flush against the clutching member 205.

To release the clutch 264, the clutching member is further provided with a longitudinal slot 210 (see Fig. 11) through which the drive shaft 262 extends, whereby the clutching member may be slid transversely relative to the shaft. The clutching member is further provided with forwardly extending detents 280 so positioned that upon transverse movement of the clutching member the detents will move behind the spacer 218, thus sliding the sleeve 260 longitudinally to open the clutch and thus break the driving connection between the drive shaft and drive unit. With this construction, it will be seen that the clutching member 205 not only functions to condition all of the numeral wheels for a resetting operation, but also breaks the drive connection between the counters and the respective drive means therefor.

I the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a counter, a supporting shaft, a plurality of numeral wheels freely rotatable and slidable on said shaft, a stop on said shaft for limiting the sliding movement of the wheels, a friction member positioned between said numeral wheels and slidably secured to the shaft, a resetting shaft, and means operable upon operation of said resetting shaft for sliding said wheels longitudinally of the shaft to frictionally engage the wheels with the friction members whereby the wheels will be clutched to the shaft, and means operative upon continued rotation of the reset shaft for rotating the supporting shaft.

2. In a counter, a supporting shaft, a lower and higher order wheel freely rotatable and. longitudinally slidableon the shaft, a stop for limiting sliding movement of'the lower order wheel, a frictional member positioned between said numeral wheels and slidably secured to said shaft, a friction plate positioned on said higher order wheel adjacent the friction member, a shoulder for positioning said friction plate on said wheel, a spring normally urging said friction plate against the shoulder, a reset shaft,

means operable upon rotation of said reset shaft for sliding said higher order wheel on said shaft whereby said spring will be compressed to urge said plate into engagement with said friction member and said friction member into engagement with said lower order wheel for clutching said order wheels to said shaft, and means operative upon continued rotation of the reset member for rotating the reset shaft.

3. In a counter, a rotatable supporting shaft, a lower and higher order wheel freely rotatable and slidable on said shaft, a stop for limiting the sliding movement of the wheels, a friction member positioned betweensaid numeral wheels and slidably secured to the shaft, a reset shaft, means operated by the reset shaft for sliding said wheels on said shaft to clutch s id wheels to said friction member, and meansv operated by the reset shaft following clutching engagement between the wheels and friction member for rotating said supporting shaft. 1

4. In a counter, a supporting'shaft, a lower and higher order wheel freely rotatable and longitudinally slidable on the shaft, a stop for limiting the sliding movement of the lower order wheel, a friction member positioned between said numeral wheels, a friction plate slidably mounted on'one of said numeral wheels, a shoulder for limiting the sliding movement of the friction plate, a spring self-contained between said friction plate and said wheel, and means for sliding said higher order wheel longitudinally of the shaft to compress said spring and frictionally engage said order wheels with said friction member, and means for thereafter rotating the supporting shaft.

5. In a counter having a numeral wheel rotatable in one direction to perform a counting operation and in another direction to perform a reset operation, a supporting shaft for said Wheel on which said Wheel is freely rotatable, a friction member slidably supported on said shaft, spring "means for urging said friction member into engagement with said numeral wheel, means normally holding said spring out of engagement with said friction member, reset-means for operating said supporting shaft in a reset direction, and means operable by said reset means for placing said spring under compression to urge said friction member into engagement with said numeral wheel whereby said numeral wheel will be simultaneously rotated with said supporting shaft.

6. In a counter, a supporting shaft, a lower and higher order wheel freely rotatable and slidable on said shaft, a stopfor limiting the sliding movement of the order wheels, a drive unit for operating said order wheels in a counting direction, a drive shaft, a clutch between said drive shaft and said drive unit, means for clutching said numeral wheels to the supporting shaft, a resetting shaft, and a single member operated by the reset shaft for simultaneously clutching the numeral wheels to their supporting shafts and declutching the drive unit from the drive shaft.

7. In a counter, a supporting shaft, a lower and higher order wheel freely rotatable and slidable on said shaft, a stop for limiting the sliding movement of the order wheels, a drive unit for operating said order wheels in a counting direction, a drive shaft, a clutch between said drive shaft and said drive unit, means for clutching said numeral wheels to the supporting shaft, a resetting shaft, a single member operated by the reset shaft for simultaneously clutching the numeral wheels to their supporting shafts and declutching the drive unit from the drive shaft, 1 and means thereafter operated by the reset shaft for rotating the supporting shaft in a non-counting direction. I

8. In a counter, a supporting shaft, a plurality of numeral wheels freely rotatable and slidable on the shaft, a stop for limiting the sliding movement of the wheels, means for clutching the wheels to the shaft for simultaneous rotation therewith, a transversely slidable clutching member, and reset means for transversely sliding said member to clutch the wheels to the shaft, and means thereafter operated by said reset means for thereafter rotating the supporting shaft.

- ment of the shaft, drive means for operating said wheels in a counting direction, means for resetting said wheels in a direction opposite to counting, said reset means including a single member operable to simultaneously clutch the numeral wheels to their supporting shafts and declutch them from the drive means, and means thereafter operable by the reset means for rotating the supporting shaft,

10. In combination, a pair of spaced counters,

each including a supporting shaft and a plurality of numeral wheels freely rotatable and slidably supported on the shaft, means operative upon a sliding movement of the wheels on the shaft for clutching the shafts to the wheel, means for operating said Wheels in a counting direction, and reset means including a common reset shaft, means operable by said reset shaft to disconnect said numeral wheels from said driving means, and a common member transversely slidable by said reset shaft for simultaneously longitudinally moving said numeral wheels to clutch them to the supporting shaft.

11 In combination, a pair of spaced counters, each including a supporting shaft and a plurality of numeral wheels freely rotatable and slidably supported on the shaft, means operative upon a sliding movement of the wheels on the shaft for clutching the shafts to the wheel, means for operating said wheels in a counting direction, reset means including a common reset shaft, means operable by said reset shaft to disconnect said numeral wheels from said driving means, a common member transversely slidable by said reset shaft for simultaneously longitudinally moving said numeral wheels to clutch them to the supporting shaft, and means thereafter operated by the reset shaft for rotating said supporting shafts,

12. In a counter having a numeral wheel ro tatable in one direction to perform a counting operation and in another direction to perform a reset operation, a ratchet associated with said wheel, a pawl normally engageable with said ratchet for preventing reverse rotation of said Wheel when operating in a counting direction, reset means including a reset shaft, and a slide operated by said reset means for releasing said pawl from the ratchet and moving it to a second position for engaging a stop carried by said numeral wheel to stop it in zero position when operated in a reset direction.

13. In a counter having a numeral wheel rotatable in one direction to perform a counting operation and in another direction to perform a reset operation, means for operating said wheel in a counting direction comprising a ratchet secured to the wheel and a drive pawl for actuating said ratchet, a retainer pawl normally engag'eable with said ratchet for preventing operation in a reset direction during a counting operation, reset means, and a slide operated by said reset means for releasing both said drive pawl and retainer pawl from engagement with the ratchet and for moving said retainer pawl to a position for engaging a stop carried by said wheel to stop it in zero position when operated in a reset direction.

HARVEY N, BLISS. 

